Genesis 29:31
Genesis 29:31 in Multiple Translations
When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
¶ And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
And Jehovah saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
Now the Lord, seeing that Leah was not loved, gave her a child; while Rachel had no children.
When the Lord saw that Leah wasn't loved he helped Leah to have children, but not Rachel.
When the Lord saw that Leah was despised, he made her fruitful: but Rahel was barren.
And Jehovah seeth that Leah [is] the hated one, and He openeth her womb, and Rachel [is] barren;
The LORD saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he made her fruitful: but Rachel was barren.
And the Lord seeing that he despised Lia, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.
When Yahweh saw that Jacob did not love Leah very much, he enabled her to become pregnant. But Rachel was not able to become pregnant.
Jacob didn’t love his wife Leah. He only loved his wife Rachel. And God saw that Jacob didn’t love Leah. So God felt sorry for Leah, and he let her have kids. But Rachel couldn’t have any kids.
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 29:31
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Genesis 29:31 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/יַּ֤רְא
יְהוָה֙
כִּֽי
שְׂנוּאָ֣ה
לֵאָ֔ה
וַ/יִּפְתַּ֖ח
אֶת
רַחְמָ֑/הּ
וְ/רָחֵ֖ל
עֲקָרָֽה
וַ/יַּ֤רְא
râʼâh
H7200
Provider
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
יְהוָה֙
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
שְׂנוּאָ֣ה
sânêʼ
H8130
to hate
V-Qal-Inf-c
לֵאָ֔ה
Lêʼâh
H3812
Leah
N-proper
וַ/יִּפְתַּ֖ח
pâthach
H6605
to open
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM
רַחְמָ֑/הּ
rechem
H7358
womb
N-ms | Suff
וְ/רָחֵ֖ל
Râchêl
H7354
Rachel
Conj | N-proper
עֲקָרָֽה
ʻâqâr
H6135
barren
Adj
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 29:31
וַ/יַּ֤רְא
râʼâh
H7200
"Provider"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
The Hebrew word for provider means to see or look after, and is used to describe God's care for his people. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible, including in Genesis and other books.
Definition: (Lord will) Provide, cause to be seen. This name means to see, look at, inspect, look after
Usage: Occurs in 1206 OT verses. KJV: advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 41:41; Exodus 33:13.
יְהוָה֙
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
שְׂנוּאָ֣ה
sânêʼ
H8130
"to hate"
V-Qal-Inf-c
To hate means to feel intense dislike or hostility, as seen in the actions of enemies or foes in the Bible. It can also describe God's hatred of sin.
Definition: 1) to hate, be hateful 1a) (Qal) to hate 1a1) of man 1a2) of God 1a3) hater, one hating, enemy (participle) (subst) 1b) (Niphal) to be hated 1c) (Piel) hater (participle) 1c1) of persons, nations, God, wisdom Aramaic equivalent: se.ne (שְׂנָא "to hate" H8131)
Usage: Occurs in 139 OT verses. KJV: enemy, foe, (be) hate(-ful, -r), odious, [idiom] utterly. See also: Genesis 24:60; Psalms 50:17; Psalms 5:6.
לֵאָ֔ה
Lêʼâh
H3812
"Leah"
N-proper
Leah was the first wife of Jacob, daughter of Laban, and mother of many tribes of Israel, including Reuben and Judah, as told in Genesis 29:16.
Definition: A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.16; daughter of: Laban (H3837A); sister of: Rachel (H7354); married to Israel (H3478); mother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783) § Leah = "weary" daughter of Laban, first wife of Jacob, and mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah
Usage: Occurs in 32 OT verses. KJV: Leah. See also: Genesis 29:16; Genesis 30:18; Ruth 4:11.
וַ/יִּפְתַּ֖ח
pâthach
H6605
"to open"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
This verb means to engrave or carve, and is used in Exodus to describe the intricate carvings on the furniture of the tabernacle.
Definition: 1) to open 1a) (Qal) to open 1b) (Niphal) to be opened, be let loose, be thrown open 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to free 1c2) to loosen 1c3) to open, open oneself 1d) (Hithpael) to loose oneself Aramaic equivalent: pe.tach (פְּתַח "to open" H6606)
Usage: Occurs in 133 OT verses. KJV: appear, break forth, draw (out), let go free, (en-) grave(-n), loose (self), (be, be set) open(-ing), put off, ungird, unstop, have vent. See also: Genesis 7:11; Psalms 39:10; Psalms 5:10.
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
רַחְמָ֑/הּ
rechem
H7358
"womb"
N-ms | Suff
This Hebrew word means womb, referring to the place where a fetus grows. It is translated as matrix or womb in the KJV, symbolizing birth and new life. It is a significant concept in biblical culture.
Definition: 1) womb 1a) womb 1b) womb-man, woman-slave, woman, two women
Usage: Occurs in 25 OT verses. KJV: matrix, womb. See also: Genesis 20:18; 1 Samuel 1:6; Psalms 22:11.
וְ/רָחֵ֖ל
Râchêl
H7354
"Rachel"
Conj | N-proper
Rachel was a wife of Jacob and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Her name means ewe, and she is an important figure in the book of Genesis, where her story is told in detail.
Definition: A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.6; daughter of: Laban (H3837A); sister of: Leah (H3812); married to Israel (H3478); mother of: Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144) Also named: Rhachēl (Ῥαχήλ "Rachel" G4478) § Rachel = "ewe" daughter of Laban, wife of Jacob, and mother of Joseph and Benjamin
Usage: Occurs in 44 OT verses. KJV: Rachel. See also: Genesis 29:6; Genesis 30:25; Jeremiah 31:15.
עֲקָרָֽה
ʻâqâr
H6135
"barren"
Adj
Means sterile or barren, describing someone unable to have children, as seen in the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:6-8. This word is used to describe a woman who cannot bear children. It appears in the Bible to convey a sense of longing for a child.
Definition: barren, sterile
Usage: Occurs in 11 OT verses. KJV: ([idiom] male or female) barren (woman). See also: Genesis 11:30; Judges 13:2; Psalms 113:9.
Study Notes — Genesis 29:31
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Genesis 29:31 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Genesis 29:31
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 29:31
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 29:31
- Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 29:31
- Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 29:31
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Genesis 29:31
- Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 29:31
- Sermons on Genesis 29:31
Context — Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah
29Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant.
30Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years.
31When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
32And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.” 33Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son as well.” So she named him Simeon.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Samuel 2:21 | So the LORD attended to Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD. |
| 2 | Matthew 10:37 | Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 21:15 | If a man has two wives, one beloved and the other unloved, and both bear him sons, but the unloved wife has the firstborn son, |
| 4 | Genesis 20:18–2 | — |
| 5 | 1 Samuel 1:5 | But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb. |
| 6 | Psalms 127:3 | Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward. |
| 7 | Genesis 29:30 | Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years. |
| 8 | Judges 13:2–3 | Now there was a man from Zorah named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, whose wife was barren and had no children. The angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “It is true that you are barren and have no children; but you will conceive and give birth to a son. |
| 9 | Exodus 3:7 | The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings. |
| 10 | Genesis 30:1–2 | When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob. Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?” |
Genesis 29:31 Summary
This verse tells us that God saw Leah's sadness and pain because she was not loved by her husband Jacob, so He opened her womb and allowed her to have children. This shows that God is a God of mercy and compassion, who cares about those who are hurting, as we also see in Psalm 34:18. It also reminds us that God is in control of all things, including our bodies and our lives, as stated in Jeremiah 29:11. Just like Leah, we can trust God to see us and act on our behalf, even when we feel unloved or overlooked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did God open Leah's womb and allow her to have children while Rachel was barren?
God saw that Leah was unloved by her husband Jacob, and in His mercy, He opened her womb to bring her comfort and joy, as we see in Genesis 29:31. This act of God's mercy is reminiscent of His care for Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:20, where He also opened her womb in response to her prayers and tears.
Is this verse teaching that God only blesses those who are unloved or marginalized?
While this verse highlights God's special care for Leah, who was unloved by Jacob, it does not imply that God only blesses those who are unloved. Instead, it shows that God is a God of compassion and mercy, who sees the needs of all people, as stated in Psalm 138:8, and acts according to His sovereign will.
How does this verse relate to the theme of God's sovereignty in the Bible?
Genesis 29:31 demonstrates God's sovereignty over human affairs, including the opening and closing of wombs, as also seen in Genesis 30:2. This theme is echoed in other parts of Scripture, such as Romans 9:18, where Paul writes about God's mercy and hardening, highlighting His absolute control over all things.
What can we learn from Leah's experience about God's character?
Leah's story teaches us that God is a God who sees and hears the afflicted, as stated in Exodus 2:25, and who acts on their behalf. It also shows that God's ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts, as written in Isaiah 55:8-9, and that He can bring blessing out of difficult circumstances.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways in which I feel unloved or overlooked, and how can I trust God to see and act on my behalf in those areas?
- How does this verse challenge my understanding of God's sovereignty and mercy in my own life?
- In what ways can I show compassion and love to those around me who may feel unloved or marginalized, just as God showed love to Leah?
- What does this verse teach me about the importance of trusting God's timing and sovereignty in my life, even when I don't understand His ways?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 29:31
And when the Lord saw that Leah [was] hated,.... Not properly and simply hated by Jacob, as appears by his doing the duty of an husband to her, but comparatively; she was less loved than Rachel: and
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 29:31
And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. When the Lord saw ... This statement is of great importance in the progressive development of the covenant.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 29:31
Leah was hated comparatively to Rachel, less loved, slighted. So that word is oft used, as 10:37, compared with . Thus variously doth God distribute his favours, that all may be contented and none despised.
Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 29:31
Genesis 29:31 And when the LORD saw that Leah [was] hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel [was] barren.Ver. 31. When the Lord saw that Leah was hated.] That is, less loved and respected. So God hated Esau; and accounts the neglects of wife or husband, no better than hatred. But Rachel was barren.] God commonly crosseth men’ s preposterous affections, that he may draw all love to himself. Jonah loseth his gourd, and we our dearest delights, by overloving them.
Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 29:31
BIRTH OF JACOB’S ELEVEN SONS, AND HIS .(31) Leah was hated.—We must not soften this down too much; for plainly Leah was not the object of love at all. It was her fruitfulness which gave her value in her husband’s eyes, and when this ceased, Jacob utterly neglected her (Genesis 30:15).
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Genesis 29:31
Verse 31. The Lord saw that Leah was hated] From this and the preceding verse we get the genuine meaning of the word שנא sane, to hate, in certain disputed places in the Scriptures. The word simply signifies a less degree of love; so it is said, Genesis 29:30: "Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah," i.e., he loved Leah less than Rachel; and this is called hating in Genesis 29:31: When the Lord saw that Leah was hated-that she had less affection shown to her than was her due, as one of the legitimate wives of Jacob, he opened her womb-he blessed her with children. Now the frequent intercourse of Jacob with Leah (see the following verses) sufficiently proves that he did not hate her in the sense in which this term is used among us; but he felt and showed less affection for her than for her sister. So Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated, simply means, I have shown a greater degree of affection for Jacob and his posterity than I have done for Esau and his descendants, by giving the former a better earthly portion than I have given to the latter, and by choosing the family of Jacob to be the progenitors of the Messiah. But not one word of all this relates to the eternal states of either of the two nations. Those who endeavour to support certain peculiarities of their creed by such scriptures as these, do greatly err, not knowing the Scripture, and not properly considering either the sovereignty or the mercy of God.
Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 29:31
LEAH’S FIRST FOUR SONS, Genesis 29:31-35. Rachel was barren — This would appear like a chastisement for Jacob’s partiality, (Genesis 29:30,) and an intimation that the blessing of posterity was “not
Sermons on Genesis 29:31
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Divinely Lead by David Ravenhill | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the cycle of bondage and captivity that the nation of Israel experienced due to their disobedience to God. The speaker highlights specific ins |
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Samson's Strength by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the use of television and radio in spreading the gospel. He challenges the idea that television is the ultimate tool for saving the world, poi |
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Ruth - Part 6 by John McGregor | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of having a godly heritage and how it can still happen today. Despite the challenges and distractions of the world, the preac |
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Jacob's Love for Rachael by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the story of Jacob and his love for Rachel. He highlights the unfortunate position of Leah, who was unloved by Jacob. However, God show |
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Testimony and Challenge by Gladys Aylward | In this sermon, the speaker shares their personal experience of being in China and looking after mules while others listened to a woman named Jeannie tell stories about Jesus. The |
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Do We Really Believe in Hell? by K.P. Yohannan | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of reaching out to the billions of people who have never heard the name of Jesus and are on their way to hell. He encourages l |
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What Is a Christian by Alan Redpath | In this sermon, the speaker shares his personal experience of being a businessman who was torn between pursuing worldly success and following God's calling. He emphasizes the impor |